"You have to be more innovative, more creative."
Cricket is considered a religion in India but it should not be an obstacle for other sports in the country.
This was echoed by World Athletics boss Lord Sebastian Coe, who said other sports can challenge cricket’s dominance by producing trailblazers like Neeraj Chopra.
Lord Coe was in India to discuss the growth potential of sports.
Expressing faith in the country’s potential to become a sports powerhouse, Coe said:
“When you have an Indian athlete winning Olympic titles and world championships, then you are in good shape.
“When you have athletes of the calibre and high profile of Neeraj, then you can actually mount a very good challenge to other sports.
“And look, we know the national religion is cricket.
“It’s really important that India have athletes that capture the imagination of the public, ultimately the broadcasters. And Neeraj does both.”
Neeraj Chopra became a global star when he won gold in the men’s javelin at the Tokyo Olympics. He added a silver medal at Paris 2024.
At 26, he is already an all-time sporting great in India.
With other sports witnessing success, could they dethrone cricket’s dominance in India?
Not an Obstacle for other Sports
While cricket enjoys a massive following in India, Sebastian Coe said it should not be a roadblock for other sports.
However, they should find innovative ways to gain popularity.
Lord Coe said: “It (cricket) shouldn’t be (a roadblock), because every country has sports that are dominant.
“It would be like saying in the UK, well, football is an inhibitor for track and field. We have one of the best track and field teams in the UK that we’ve had for many years.
“You have to live with what you have to live with.
“And you can’t just sit there saying, well, India, the cricket or football or rugby or wherever these sports are really strong. You sort of give up, you don’t.
“You have to be more innovative, more creative.
“The sporting landscape is very competitive. Cricket is a very dominant sport in India. I watch it all the time.”
India’s Bid to host the 2036 Olympics
Despite having the largest population, India’s performance at the 2024 Olympics was underwhelming, winning just six medals, none of them being gold.
India now aims to host the 2036 Olympics and has submitted a letter of intent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The bid is being backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom Lord Coe met with on November 25, 2024.
Lord Coe explained: “I’m not going to divulge a private conversation.
“But we talked about the importance of big events in India.
“He was very clear that big events promote not just better competition, but have a broader societal impact, particularly on the health, mental and physical of young people.
“And he (PM) is obviously very keen for more events to come to India and was particularly encouraging of the Indian Athletics Federation (AFI) to bid for more of our events.”
Global athletics events are ongoing, however, the World Athletics Ultimate Championship (WAUC) is set to outshine them when it gets underway in 2026.
Budapest has been chosen to host the inaugural event, which has a $10 million prize pool.
Lord Coe said India could join the bidding process for a future WAUC event.
He said: “I sincerely hope so (India can aspire to host the event).
“But look, we have a bidding process, which we actively encourage all our federations that love athletics and have the capacity to deliver those events, to want to bid for them.
“So, World Athletics is open for business and India is a very important market for us.”
Lord Coe said the idea of giving $50,000 to gold-winning track and field athletes at the Paris Olympics was driven by a desire to provide them financial security.
He added: “Look, there was nothing new in what we announced. And it’s certainly been my philosophy for the best part of 45-50 years.
“I’ve always believed that the welfare of the athletes isn’t just about mental and physical.
“It’s also about giving them some financial security. So look, the decision we made was a decision that is in line with our prize money policies in the sport.
“I have to say that it’s been welcomed by our athletes.”
Protecting Women’s Sport is a Must
The inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports has become an increasingly controversial topic, with the IOC facing criticism for its policies allowing their participation.
Under Lord Coe’s leadership, World Athletics has upheld a women-only policy, a decision that has drawn backlash from advocates for transgender rights.
He said: “You know my position. It’s very clear.
“It’s very much in the public domain… for me, protecting the female category, protecting women’s sport is non-negotiable.”
“And at World Athletics, we have very clear-cut policies that make that declaration of intent very clear.”
While cricket’s dominance in India remains unparalleled due to its deep cultural roots, widespread fan base, and robust infrastructure, other sports could lead to a shift in the country’s sporting landscape.
Lord Sebastian Coe’s visit to India is a big step in growing other sports.
While hosting global sporting events like the Olympics is an aspirational goal, substantial investment and innovative approaches are essential to realistically compete with cricket’s dominance.
Cricket is unlikely to lose its crown anytime soon but the growing popularity of other sports indicates that India’s love for sports is becoming more inclusive and multidimensional.
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